Metallic fence-post



(No Model.) I

B. F. RANDALL. METALLIC FENCE POST.

Patented May 31 Jyevezgtm UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

BENJAMIN F. RANDALL, OF FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS METALLIC FENCE-P'O-ST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,069, dated May 31, 1892.

Application filed March 3, 1892.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, BENJAMIN F. RANDALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Metallic Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fencing which comprises wire or other strands tied or secured to metal posts by locking devices; and the invention has for its objects to provide a new and improved wrought-metal post which is susceptible of being easily driven into the ground, and to provide novel, simple, efficient, and economical means for firmly look ing the wires or strands at every post for securely holding the strands under tension and preventinglengthwise movement and sagging thereof, while enabling repairs to be conveniently and quickly effected for preserving the fencing in perfect order at small expense.

To accomplish these objects my invention involves the features of construction and the combination or arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in whieh- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a metal fencepost constructed in accordance with my invention. a portion of the fence-post with a wire strand tied or secured thereto by my improved locking devices. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing a modified construction of the hook for securing or looking the fence-strand to the post. Fig. 4. is a detail perspective View of the hook illustrated on the post in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the hook illustrated on the post in Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is an edge View of the post to illustrate the beveled construction of the slot with which the fencestrand engages, the strand being shown in dotted lines to exhibit the bend therein which prevents lengthwise movement of such strand.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein The numeral 1 indicates a fence-post formed from a single piece of wrought metal, which is rolled integral with a right-angular base Fig. 2 is a similar view showing Serial No. 423.645. (N0 model.)

comprising flanges 2 and 3, which stand at right angles to each other and one of which 3 terminates at a suitable distance to form a driving-head 4 for the purpose of driving the post into the ground. The flange 2 constitutes a continuation of the metal plate which comprises the post above the ground, and this metal plate is formed at its rear edge with a lateral rib 5 for the purpose of impart- .ing rigidity and strength to the structure asa whole. The flange 3 is formed at its outer edge with a lateral rib 6 for strengthening such flange and enlarging the driving-head 4 y to facilitate driving the post. .of the metallic plate of which the post is :composed is formed at proper points with The front edge pairs of slots 7 and 8, the upper one of each pair being inclined from the edge of the post in a downward direction and the lower one of each pair, as here illustrated, being inclined from the edge of the post in an upward direction. The bottom wall of each upper slot 7 is beveled to provide sharp edges 9 for bitingor engaging the fence wire or strand 10. The upper slots 7 are preferably V-shaped; but they can be U-shaped or of other form approximating thereto and suitable for the conditions required. The wire strand is inserted into an upper slot and is then pressed downward at opposite sides of the post, so that the strand is formed with a bend 12, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6,) the shoulders formed by such bend serving to engage opposite sides of the post and thereby prevent lengthwi e moveme'nt of. the wire or strand.

To tie or look the fence-strand in the poportion of the strand tightly down in a slot 7,,

whereby the fence-strand is held under tension and is prevented fro m movin glen gthwise and sagging, while the hooked extremities can be readily disengaged from the strand to enable repairs to be conveniently and quickly effected.

- In the modification, Figs. 3 and 5, the hook comprises a single arm 16, suitably engaged at its lower end 17 with a lower slot 8 and hav 1 such as metal bracesto connect the casting its upper hooked extremity 18 engaged with the wire or fence strand at one side of the fence-post.

I have illustrated the hooks as engaged with slots 8, but do not confine myself to this specific construction, as the lower portions of the hooks can be engaged with a recess, per

foration, or opening formed in the post other than as an inclined slot.

The metallic fence-post constructed as described is in a single complete piece ready .for immediate use, and it can be conveniently driven into the ground through the medium of the driving-head formed by the upper end of the flange 3. The construction is such that the post can be cut and formed complete in a series from a single piece of metal..

The slots into which the wires or strands are inserted are so constructed and shaped that their lower edges will be sharp for the purpose of biting or engaging the fencestrand, and as the upper slots are approximately V-shaped the fence-strands can be driven in, so that the sharpened lower edges of the slots will bite into the fence-strand, and thereby hold it securely in position and prevent it from moving lengthwise.

In practice the hooks are so constructed that their length is less than the distance be tween the upper and lower slots, so that the hooks will retain the fence-strand down in the upper slots 7 and preserve the bends 12.

The construction described and shown provides a new and improved metal fence-post and novel, simple, efficient, and economical means for tying or securing the wires or other strands to each post in such manner that the strands are held under tension and are prevented from moving lengthwise and sagging, While repairs can be conveniently and quickly effected for keepingthe fencing in good order at the least expense.

It will be observed that the fence-post is of such construction that while it possesses a right-angular base one flange of which is short and terminates in a driving-head the post a Whole can be cut in a single piece out of a piece of metal, thereby avoiding skilled mechanical labor, which is necessary to fit together and connect the parts where a fencepost is made in sections.

The formation of the wire-receiving slots with converging edges, as when V-shaped or approximate form, is a very useful feature of the post, in that the fence wires or strands can be forced or driven into these slots and be securely held by the converging edges thereof.

I am aware that angular 01' flanged wroughtmetal fence posts having wire-receiving slots in the edges of the flanges have been provided with cast-iron angular bases; but such are expensive and require fastening devicesiron base to the wrought-metal body of the post, and, further, the cast-iron base is liable to become separated from the wrought-metal body. This objectionable and expensive construction does not constitute my invention and is not claimed by me.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A fence-post consisting of a single piece of wrought metal having at one edge a lateral strengtheningrib and rolled integral with a rightangular base comprising two flanges, one of which terminates in a drivinghead for the purpose of driving the post into the ground, substantially as described.

2. A metal fence-post consisting of a single piece of wrought metal havinginclined wirereceiving slots and rolled integral with a right-angular base comprising two angular flanges, one of which terminates in a driving-head below the lowermost slot for the purpose of driving the post into the ground, substantially as described.

The combination, with a fence-post having upper and lower slots or recesses, of a hook which engages the lower slot or recess and is adapted to hook over a fence-strand passing through the upper slot or recess, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a fence-posthavin g a pair of slots 7 and S, which are inclined in reverse directions relatively to one edge of the post, of a hook engaged with the lower slot 8 and having a hooked extremity which engages a fence-strand passing through theupper slot 7, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a fence-post having an inclined slot, the bottom wall or edge of which is beveled, of a hook engaged with the post below the inclined slot and adapted to hook over a fence-strand passing through the slot, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a fence-post having upper and lower inclined slots, and a fence-strand passing through the upper slot and formed with a bend 12, of a hook engaged with the lower slot and adapted to hook over the fence-strand passing through the upper slot, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. RANDALL. [1; s]

Witnesses:

MARoUs G. B. SWIFT, JOHN T. SWIFT. 

